Dev Hynes is a musician who is hemorrhaging
creativity from every artery. The surplus of talent is more than one project to
bare, thus this causes him to have two musical ventures. Hynes’ two separate mellifluous exposés, Lightspeed
Champion and Blood Orange, have provided soundtracks to the movie that could encompass
any person’s existence. Naturally gravitating towards Blood Orange, the album “Cupid
Deluxe,” which was debuted in November of 2013, has transcended into the staple
album in my repertoire of musicians and artists. An auditory adventure that consistently
keep my headphones glued to my ears throughout the grind of my day-to-day life.
Categorizing “Cupid Deluxe” under generalized genres of chillwave or R&B is
inundating this truly artistic expression, which is simply a crime in itself,
because there are so many clear influences that have come from such a long
evolution of music cornerstones. Specifying a genre to lay claim to Devonte’s
work within Blood Orange is inequitable. “Cupid Deluxe” has a truistic composition
contained within its sound, but at first glance might be mistakenly cliché,
repeat, mistakenly so. Haynes proves to be unlike anything most music aficionados
have ever had the privilege of listening to. The second track, “You’re Not Good
Enough,” has the listener questioning whether or not they should work out in
neon colored leggings or write down their introverted emotional distresses in a
diary. The style on the album makes some clear nods to Daft Punk or ballad
driven soft rock consisting of sax melodies that are undeniably East Coast
influenced. Coincidentally, Dev even notes work from the mid 80’s to 90’s,
while still maintaining a modernized rhythm that is appropriate and applicable for
this day and age. Track five, “It Is What It Is,” is a prime example of what the
prototypical sound Blood Orange is striving for. The dual harmony vocal lines provided by Caroline Polachek of the group Chairlift, will leave you in a trance
while the beat picks up and transforms itself in to something stunning and fictitious.
The angst in Hynes’ voice as well as the sheer passion that finds its way
through the haunting melodies is what really stands out to anyone that allows
this auditory flower to unfold. Throughout “Cupid Deluxe,” you will notice
horns, drums, guitar, and a touch of hip hop. Other contributors to this
collaboration are the omnipresent artists such as Friends' Samantha Urbani, Dirty Projectors' David Longstreth, Clams Casino, and Despot, who kills the mic with
his lyrical flow in the track “Clipped On.” Without a hitch, Dev Hynes
even includes sexually alluring French accented women speaking ever so effervescently,
which is mixed in like a fresh class of champagne after a seductive one-night-stand.
“Cupid Deluxe” is an album that may or may not hit the charts in this day in
age, which is no indication of the unadulterated brilliance within this musical
exhibition. There is absolutely no questioning of Hynes’ ability to create
something truly imaginative and unique. "Cupid Deluxe" is in fact something to
fall in love with, but never fearing it to be unrequited.
by Nick Way
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